Chapter 19: The Woman in the Grave
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Michael stared at the empty doorway.
The woman who had stood there moments earlier had vanished.
On the concrete floor lay Laura's crescent-moon necklace.
He picked it up.
"She was here.""
Boone checked the hallway.
"Duke! Lock down the exits!""
Duke ran toward the main entrance.
Agent Shaw grabbed her radio.
"All units, we have a missing suspect. Female, approximately forty years old, dark hair. She may be armed. Do not approach without backup.""
Michael turned toward the photograph.
Two identical women.
One baby.
One hospital bed.
And a grave containing a body that supposedly belonged to a woman who was standing in front of him.
He looked at the woman still inside the garage.
"Who are you?""
She didn't answer.
"Tell me your name.""
Her eyes filled.
"Michael, please.""
He stepped back.
"No. You don't get to call me that.""
She looked toward Lily.
The little girl was holding Boone's hand.
"Sweetheart," the woman whispered.
"Come here.""
Lily shook her head.
"You're not my mommy.""
The woman's expression crumbled.
Agent Shaw stepped between them.
"Ma'am, I need you to identify yourself.""
The woman slowly raised her hands.
"My name is Laura Reeves.""
Michael laughed without humor.
"Then who's in the grave?""
Laura looked at the floor.
"My sister.""
"Margaret?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
Agent Shaw frowned.
"You're saying Margaret died five years ago?""
Laura swallowed.
"Yes.""
"Then who has been impersonating her?""
Laura looked at Michael.
"Someone who wants you to believe my sister is still alive.""
Michael shook his head.
"Stop making this worse.""
Laura reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a small photograph.
It showed a younger version of herself standing beside a hospital bed.
"Five years ago, Margaret was admitted to St. Mary's under my name. She had been badly injured in a car accident.""
Michael stared at her.
"You told everyone you were in the accident.""
"I know.""
"Why?""
"Because Ryan was looking for me. He believed I had the original records.""
Laura's voice trembled.
"Margaret offered to switch identities with me. She thought she could draw Ryan away from the children.""
Agent Shaw folded her arms.
"And she died?""
Laura nodded.
"Two days later.""
Michael looked at the photograph.
"Then who was the woman we saw at the church?""
Laura closed her eyes.
"Someone who has been using Margaret's identity for years.""
"Who?""
Laura hesitated.
Then she looked at Evelyn's photograph, still lying on the table.
"Sarah Mitchell.""
Agent Shaw stiffened.
"The missing investigator?""
Laura nodded.
"She was the one who helped me uncover the placements. She disappeared after Ryan discovered what she was doing.""
Boone looked toward the garage entrance.
"You're saying Sarah has been pretending to be your dead sister?""
"Yes.""
Agent Shaw immediately contacted her team.
"Sarah Mitchell is alive. I need every available unit searching the area.""
Michael looked at Laura.
"Why would she take Lily?""
"Because she believes Lily has something Ryan never found.""
Lily stepped closer.
"What?""
Laura knelt.
"Your memories, sweetheart.""
Lily frowned.
"I don't remember anything.""
"You might remember more than you think.""
Michael turned toward Laura.
"Enough. Tell us everything.""
Laura took a breath.
"Before Sophie and Lily were born, I worked with Sarah at Carterside. We were both convinced the agency was legitimate. Then we discovered Ryan was using false death certificates and forged consent forms.""
"Why didn't you go to the police?""
"We did.""
Agent Shaw looked up.
"Who did you contact?""
Laura's eyes moved toward the photograph of Aaron.
"Robert Collins.""
Michael's jaw tightened.
"And he protected Ryan.""
Laura nodded.
"Sarah found evidence that Collins was taking payments. She wanted to bring it to federal investigators, but Ryan found out. Aaron had already discovered the same operation. He was planning to testify.""
Michael looked at the report.
"So Collins arranged his death.""
"Yes.""
"Then why did you let Claire believe Aaron died in an accident?""
Laura's eyes filled.
"I didn't. Ryan and Collins did. I was trying to reach her when they intercepted me.""
Michael turned away.
Every answer opened another wound.
Agent Shaw approached Laura.
"Where is the original evidence?""
Laura pointed toward the cabinet.
"Those are copies. The original files are hidden somewhere else.""
"Where?""
Laura looked at Lily.
"Inside the first recording.""
Michael frowned.
"The phone?""
Laura nodded.
"The old phone Sophie found. It has more than audio files. There's a hidden video.""
Michael stared.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because I didn't know who had access to the recordings.""
Boone took out his phone.
"We can retrieve it.""
Laura shook her head.
"Not without the second key.""
"What key?""
Laura looked at Michael.
"You have it.""
Michael stared.
"I don't have anything.""
She pointed toward his wrist.
He looked down.
A battered leather bracelet circled his wrist.
It had been given to him by Aaron shortly before Aaron died.
Michael had worn it for five years.
Laura's voice became quiet.
"Aaron gave you the key before he died. He told me he had hidden it somewhere you would never throw away.""
Michael slowly pulled at the bracelet.
A small metal clasp opened.
Inside was a tiny memory chip.
He stared at it.
"All this time?""
Laura nodded.
Before Agent Shaw could take it, the garage lights went out.
A gunshot echoed from the parking lot.
Duke shouted.
"DOWN!""
Boone pulled Lily behind the cabinet.
Michael grabbed Laura.
A flashlight beam swept across the garage.
Then a voice called out.
"Michael Reeves!""
Sheriff Collins stepped through the doorway.
His gun was raised.
Beside him stood Victor Hale.
Both men looked calm.
Collins smiled.
"Give me the chip.""
Agent Shaw drew her weapon.
"Robert, put it down!""
Collins laughed.
"You're too late, Rebecca.""
He pointed his gun toward Lily.
"That little girl has been the problem from the beginning.""
Michael stepped in front of her.
"You'll have to go through me.""
Collins smiled.
"I already did.""
Victor moved behind him.
And from the shadows, another woman appeared.
She looked exactly like Laura.
But this time, she was holding a photograph of Sophie.
May you like
Collins glanced at Michael.
"Now, let's finish what we started.""
